Timed ring suppressor

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for timed ring suppression are disclosed. After a communications device receives an incoming call and the ringer is activated to produce an initial audible alert, the ringer of the communications device may be silenced for subsequent audible alerts until the calling party hangs up or until the call is further processed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application relates to applicants' co-pending applicationentitled “Network-Based Timed Ring Suppression,” (Attorney Docket03-BS006/BS03034) filed simultaneously herewith and of which the “BriefSummary of the Invention” and “Detailed Description of the Invention”sections are incorporated herein by this reference.

[0002] This application relates to applicants' co-pending applicationentitled “Caller Controlled Network-Based Timed Ring Suppression,”(Attorney Docket 03-BS007/BS03035) filed simultaneously herewith and ofwhich the “Brief Summary of the Invention” and “Detailed Description ofthe Invention” sections are incorporated herein by this reference.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION

[0003] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and itsfigures contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyrightowner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of thepatent document or the patent disclosure, but otherwise reserves allcopyrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] 1. Field of the Invention

[0005] This invention relates generally to the field of communications.More particularly, this invention relates to systems and methods fortimed ring suppression of communications devices.

[0006] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0007] Telecommunications has experienced explosive growth, and moregrowth is planned as telecommunication access and numerouscommunications devices improve. This explosive growth is revolutionizingspecial services offered to subscribing customers. Of the specialservice offerings, the most relevant to this invention is the calleridentification or Caller ID services. A customer or a user of atelephone that is served by the Caller ID service is provided with acalling party's directory information. Presently available Caller IDsystems provide the calling party's telephone number and a billing nameassociated with the calling party's telephone number (if available) whenan incoming caller line identification (ICLID) signal can be detected,decoded, and transmitted to the called telephone or other display deviceassociated with the called telephone (e.g., a Caller ID device). TheCaller ID services also allow the customer to receive directoryinformation for other incoming calls while the customer's phone is used(e.g., during a conversation with another party); this service issometimes referred to as Caller ID Call Waiting service.

[0008] A customer may use the displayed Caller ID information to make adecision to answer and/or to prepare for the call. In addition, thecustomer may use Caller ID information to block incoming callsassociated with one or more ICLID signals including specific telephonenumbers selected by the customer and/or privacy screening services forunidentifiable telephone numbers of incoming calls (e.g.,telemarketers). If the customer wants to selectively answer incomingcalls using Caller ID information, the customer has severalchoices—block the call or ignore the ringing (or other audible alerts)until the call is processed by a voice messaging system (or other callhandling system) or until the caller hangs up. If the call is blocked,then the customer may not have immediate notification of the incomingblocked call to re-evaluate whether to accept the call sincecircumstances for accepting the call may change. If the customer ignoresthe call and listens to unwanted ringing, then the customer may beannoyed with the repetitive noise alerting the customer of the call. Inrecent years, telephony providers and manufacturers have tried toprovide alternate systems and methods to alert the customer of selectiveincoming calls that minimizes interruptions for unwanted calls.

[0009] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,289 to Logsdon et al., entitled“Caller ID Telephone Security Device,” discloses a caller ID telephonesecurity system that mutes the ringer of a telephone until the ICLIDsignal of the incoming call is compared with a list of telephone numbers(or other reference data) to determine whether to activate the ringerand pass the call to the communications device. If the call does notpass through to the communications device, then the call is blocked, theringer is never activated, and, thus, the customer is not alerted of theincoming call. Further, because this invention requires that thecustomer to predetermine which calls to pass through and which calls toblock, if the customer has not identified a particular telephone number(or other reference data) to pass through or block, then a desired callmay be blocked or an unwanted call may ring and pass through.

[0010] Another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,400,814 to Adams, entitled“Telephone with Ringer Silencer Screening Feature,” discloses atelephone with a ringer silencer that allows the customer to depress akeypad to deactivate the ringer on a call-by-call basis after activationof the ringer by receipt of the incoming call. That is, the ringerproduces an audible alert until the customer is able to depress thekeypad. And, once the keypad is depressed, the ringer does not produceanother audible alert until the next incoming call. Another embodimentdiscloses a system that either deactivates the ringer or that allows thecustomer to depress a keypad to transfer the call to a voice messagingsystem thus terminating the signal to the ringer. Again, the customermay be annoyed with the ringing until the keypad is depressed, and ifthe customer accidentally depresses the transfer keypad, then the callis routed to voicemail and the customer can not answer the call.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] This invention addresses the above and other needs by providingsystems and methods for enabling timed ring suppression. Typically, acustomer receives an incoming call to a communications device and isalerted of the incoming call with an initial audible alert (e.g., aring) produced by a mechanical/electronic ringer (or alternate noisemaker) of the communications device. Thereafter, subsequent rings of theringer may be suppressed for a selected time period such that one ormore rings are silenced during an uninterrupted on-hook state of thetelephone. The time period for silencing the ringer is controlled by atime parameter that may have an initial default to suppress one ring(e.g., one ring cycle approximately 5-6 seconds for a POTS phone coupledwith the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)). Alternatively, thetime parameter may be selected for predetermined periods of time by acustomer (and/or user) of the communications device, and further, thetime parameter may be set differently for different callers (alsoreferred to as calling party). The timed ring suppression may becontrolled by customer premise hardware and equipment including atelephone (or alternate communications device) with a built in (orotherwise integrated) timed ring suppressor and a stand-alone timed ringsuppressor coupled with the telephone. In an alternate embodiment, thetimed ring suppression may be controlled by a communications networkthat detects, decodes, and processes timed ring suppression of theincoming call to the communications device. Additionally, emergencypersonnel, authorized calling parties, and other authorized entities(e.g., a technician of the communications network) may override thetimed ring suppression to continuously audibly alert the customer (oranother receiving party) of the incoming call.

[0012] In an embodiment, a timed ring suppressor device includes adatabase of timed ring suppression profiles, a processor, a timed ringsuppression program for accessing, inputting, and/or otherwise managinga timed ring suppression profile, memory, and a timed ring suppressorfor suppressing the ringer of the communications device. The timed ringsuppression profile includes an identifier of reference data associatedwith an incoming line identification (ICLID) signal and/or a timingparameter for suppressing a ringer of a communications device after thecommunications device receives an incoming call and after thecommunications device activates the ringer to produce an initial audiblealert. When activated, the timed ring suppressor silences subsequentaudible alerts of the incoming call according to the timed ringsuppression profile. In other embodiments, the caller identificationmessaging device may include an audio subsystem such as an audio/videorecorder and an audio/video player, a video subsystem such as a displayconsole, a keyboard subsystem such as a keyboard, a stylus, and a mouse,and a biometric sensor. Additionally, the caller identificationmessaging device may include a power source, such as a rechargeablebattery.

[0013] Another embodiment discloses a timed ring suppressor device thatincludes an input/output processor to access, input, output, and/orotherwise manage a timed ring suppression profile, a communicationsdevice interface, a memory device, and a processor operating with atimed ring suppression program. The timed ring suppression profile mayinclude an identifier of a calling party (e.g., a caller), acommunications address (e.g., a telephone number, an IP address, etc.),an identifier of a calling party's communications device (e.g., asatellite phone, an interactive television, etc.), and/or a timingparameter for suppressing the ringer of the communications device afterthe communications device receives the incoming call and after thecommunications device activates the ringer to produce an initial audiblealert. The communications device interface couples a timed ringsuppressor circuit with a communications network and/or with thecommunications device. For example, a wired communications device mayconnect with the timed ring suppressor device via a serial or parallelport connection and a wireless communications device may transceivesignals, such as the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) Bandfrequencies, such as, 2.4-2.5 GHz and 300-428,000 GHz for infraredtransmission, cellular telephone frequencies, such as, 806-960 MHz,1710-1855 MHz, and 2500-2690 MHz, paging frequencies, and any otherfrequency in the electromagnetic spectrum. The memory device stores thedata of the timed ring suppression profile and also stores the timedring suppression program. The processor communicates with the memorydevice to operate the timed ring suppression program for processing theincoming call according to the timed ring suppression profile.

[0014] In a further embodiment, a timed ring suppressor device includesa timed ring suppressor and a circuit. After a communications devicereceives an incoming call and after the communications device activatesa ringer to produce an initial audible alert, the timed ring suppressoroperates to silence one or more subsequent audible alerts of theincoming call according to a timing parameter. The circuit couples thetimed ring suppressor and the ringer of the communications device suchthat the circuit is responsive to the timed ring suppressor to enabletimed ring suppression of the ringer while the incoming call is in anuninterrupted on-hook state. Further, the circuit is responsive to thetimed ring suppressor to disable timed ring suppression while theincoming call is in an uninterrupted on-hook state. The timing parametertypically ranges from approximately six seconds to greater than sixseconds to suppress one or more subsequent rings of the ringer.

[0015] Further details on these embodiments and other possibleembodiments including methods of timed ring suppression are set forthbelow. As is appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, thisinvention has wide utility in a number of areas as illustrated by thediscussion below. These embodiments may be accomplished singularly, orin combination, in one or more of the implementations of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The above and other embodiments, objects, uses, advantages, andnovel features of this invention are more clearly understood byreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying figures, wherein: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a timed ringsuppressor device according to an embodiment of this invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a timed ring suppressor deviceaccording to an embodiment of this invention;

[0018]FIG. 3 is perspective front view of the timed ring suppressordevice of FIG. 2 including a screen display for inputting acommunications address for timed ring suppression according to anembodiment of this invention;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a timed ring suppressor deviceaccording to an embodiment of this invention;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a schematic of a timed ring suppression systemillustrating a communications network connecting a calling party'scommunications device with a receiving party's communications device anda timed ring suppressor device according to an embodiment of thisinvention;

[0021]FIG. 6 is a schematic of a timed ring suppression systemillustrating a public switched telephone network connecting a callingparty's telephone with a customer's telephone and a timed ringsuppressor device according to an embodiment of this invention;

[0022]FIG. 7 is a schematic of a timed ring suppression systemillustrating a communications network connecting a calling party'scommunications device with a receiving party's communications deviceaccording to an embodiment of this invention;

[0023]FIG. 8 is a schematic of a timed ring suppression systemillustrating the communications connections of a calling party'stelephone, one or more communications networks, a customer's telephone,and a customer's computer according to an embodiment of this invention;

[0024]FIG. 9 is a schematic of a timed ring suppression systemillustrating the communications connections of a calling party'stelephone, one or more communications networks, and a plurality ofvarious communications devices according to an embodiment of thisinvention;

[0025]FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a timed ring suppressor deviceaccording to an embodiment of this invention;

[0026]FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a timed ring suppressor deviceaccording to an alternate embodiment of this invention; and

[0027]FIGS. 12-13 are flowcharts describing timed ring suppressionaccording to embodiments of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] This invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodimentsare shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments setforth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that thisdisclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey thescope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover,all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well asspecific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural andfunctional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that suchequivalents include both currently known equivalents as well asequivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed thatperform the same function, regardless of structure).

[0029] Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those of ordinaryskill in the art that the diagrams, schematics, flowcharts, and the likerepresent conceptual views or processes illustrating systems and methodsembodying this invention. The functions of the various elements shown inthe figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware aswell as hardware capable of executing associated software. Similarly,any switches shown in the figures are conceptual only. Their functionmay be carried out through the operation of program logic, throughdedicated logic, through the interaction of program control anddedicated logic, or even manually, the particular technique beingselectable by the entity implementing this invention. Those of ordinaryskill in the art further understand that the exemplary hardware,software, processes, methods, and/or operating systems described hereinare for illustrative purposes and, thus, are not intended to be limitedto any particular named manufacturer.

[0030] The timed ring suppression systems and methods of this inventionoperate with different communications devices and communicationsnetworks to enable, disable and/or otherwise control timed ringsuppression. The timed ring suppressor leverages the assets of theconnected communications device(s) and/or communications networks interms optimally using the connected software, hardware, equipment,networks, and/or other information technology assets. For example, acustomer's communications device may have a local and/or a wide areanetwork that utilizes Ethernet, dedicated private lines, Frame Relay,ISDN, ATM, ADSL, and the like to provide a high speed connection to adata network, such as the Internet, Intranet, and/or Extranet.Typically, the customer receives an incoming call to the communicationsdevice and is alerted of the incoming call with an initial audible alert(e.g., a ring) produced by a mechanical/electrical ringer (or alternatenoise maker) of the communications device. Thereafter, subsequent ringsof the ringer may be suppressed for a selected time period such that oneor more rings are silenced during an uninterrupted on-hook state of thetelephone. The time period for silencing the ringer is controlled by atime parameter (also referred to as a “timing parameter”) that may havean initial default to suppress one ring (e.g., one ring cycleapproximately 5-6 seconds for a POTS phone coupled with the PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN)). Alternatively, the time parametermay be selected for predetermined periods of time by a customer (and/oruser) of the communications device, and further, the time parameter maybe set differently for different callers (also referred to as callingparty). The timed ring suppression may be controlled by customer premisehardware and equipment including a telephone (or alternatecommunications device) with a built in (or otherwise integrated) timedring suppressor and a stand-alone timed ring suppressor coupled with thetelephone. In an alternate embodiment, the timed ring suppression may becontrolled by a communications network that detects, decodes, andprocesses timed ring suppression of the incoming call to thecommunications device. Additionally, emergency personnel, authorizedcalling parties, and other authorized entities (e.g., a technician ofthe communications network) may override the timed ring suppression tocontinuously audibly alert the customer (or another receiving party) ofthe incoming call.

[0031] As used herein, the term “communications device” includes wiredand wireless communications devices, such as a plain old telephone (POTSphone), a mobile phone, a wireless phone, a WAP phone, a satellitephone, a computer, a modem, a pager, a digital music device (e.g., MP3/4player), a digital recording device, a personal digital assistant, aninteractive television, a digital signal processor, and a GlobalPositioning System device. Further, as used herein, the term “data”includes electronic information, such as, for example facsimile,electronic mail (e-mail), text, video, audio, and/or voice in a varietyof formats, such as dual tone multi-frequency, digital, analog, and/orothers. Additionally, the data may include: (1) executable programs,such as a software application, (2) an address, location, and/or otheridentifier of the storage location for the data, (3) integrated orotherwise combined files, such as a grouping of destinationcommunications addresses associated with the receiving party, and/or (4)timed ring suppression profiles, including configuration, authenticity,security, and other data. In various embodiments, the data may be storedby the communications network, a peripheral storage device connected tothe communications network, the timed ring suppressor device, thecommunications device, and/or other connected networks.

[0032] Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing atimed ring suppressor device 100 coupled with a telephone 160. The timedring suppressor device includes a system controller 102, a processor104, a memory subsystem 106, a database 108, a timed ring suppressionmanagement module (also referred to as the “timed ring suppressionprogram”) 110, an input/output (“I/O”) interface 120, one or moreinput/output device(s) 122, a caller identification device 124, atelephone line connection (or connection to an alternate communicationsdevice) 130, a timed ring suppressor 140, and a circuit 145 thatconnects the timed ring suppressor with a ringer 150 of the telephone160. The system controller 102, as known in the art, provides a bridgingfunction between the processor 104, the memory subsystem 106, theinput/output interface 120, and the timed ring suppressor 140.Typically, as known in the art, a system bus communicates signals, suchas data signals, control signals, and address signals, between theprocessor 104 and the system controller 102. The processor 104 executesan operating system that controls the internal functions of the timedring suppressor device 100. The timed ring suppression program 110operates within the system memory 106; however, the timed ringsuppression program 110 could also reside in flash memory or aperipheral storage device. The I/O Interface 120 allows the timed ringsuppressor device 100 to monitor, detect, receive, and decode anincoming call identification (ICLID) signal of an incoming call via theCaller ID device 124 coupled with line 130. Alternatively, the timedring suppressor device 100 may receive the ICLID signal from aperipheral device (not shown) or via telephone 160. The timed ringsuppression program 110 compares reference data transmitted with theICLID signal to data stored in one of more timed ring suppressionprofiles stored in memory 106 to activate the timed ring suppressor 140and enable the circuit 145 to suppress the ringer 150 of telephone 160.A timing parameter of the timed ring suppression profile specifies thetime period to silence the ringer and, if applicable, to enablesubsequent ringing after the time period has passed. The timingparameter is preferably about six seconds to correspond with a ringcycle. The timing parameter could also be multiples of six secondincrements to correspond with subsequent ring cycles. The timingparameter, however, could alternatively be any duration from less thanone second to not exceeding about two minutes.

[0033]FIG. 2 is a similar block diagram of the timed ring suppressor 100of FIG. 1; however, the timed ring suppressor of FIG. 2 includes adigital signal processor 202, an internal memory system 204, an external(or peripheral) memory system 206, a power management system 208, aninput/output processor 220 interfacing with a voice/video player 231, avoice/video recorder 232, a biometrics sensor 233, a keypad 234, adisplay 235, a communications (“comm.”) port 236, the timed ringsuppression program 110, the telephone line connection 130, the timedring suppressor 140, and the circuit 145 that connects the timed ringsuppressor 140 with the ringer 150 of the telephone 160. The timed ringsuppression program 110 operates within a memory device of the digitalsignal processor 202. The memory device could include the internalmemory 204 of the digital signal processor 202, or the memory devicecould include the external memory device 206 communicating with thedigital signal processor 202. The digital signal processor 202 convertsanalog signals to digital signals and converts digital signals to analogsignals. The digital signal processor 202 could include compression anddecompression algorithms, cancellation algorithms, audio-processingcircuitry, filter circuitry, and amplifier circuitry. Although digitalsignal processors can be designed to provide differing capabilities anda variety of performance criteria, the basic functions of the digitalsignal processor are known and, thus, will not be further discussed.

[0034] The digital signal processor 202 interfaces with an input/outputprocessor 220. The input/output processor 220 controls systeminput/output and provides telephony-like control features. A busprovides a signal communication path between the digital signalprocessor 202 and the input/output processor 220. The input/outputprocessor 220 is a microprocessor that includes memory (not shown),communication controllers (not shown), and peripheral controllers (notshown). The communication controllers, for example, could controlpacket-based communications with a data network (shown as referencenumeral 860 in FIG. 8-10) through the COMM port 236. The communicationcontrollers could also control packet-based communications with atelecommunications switch (shown as reference numeral 610 in FIGS. 6,8-10) through the COMM port 236. The clock source 237 provides a systemclock for the timed ring suppressor device 100, and the clock source 237may also include higher and lower frequency multiples of the systemclock depending upon power requirements and power availability. Thepower management system 208 provides differing power control mechanisms,such as a sleep mode and a low-power mode, to efficiently utilizeavailable power and to reduce thermal management concerns. Further, thepower management system may include a power source, such as arechargeable battery to provide power and allow the timed ringsuppression device 100 to be portable.

[0035] The peripheral controllers of the input/output processor 220provide an interface with the attached peripherals including, forexample, the voice/video player 231, voice/video recorder 232, thebiometrics sensor 233, the display 235 (such as an LCD/LED/CRT display),the keypad 234, and the COMM port 130. The timed ring suppressionprogram 110 may cooperate with the operating system and with theperipherals (e.g., display 235 and keypad 234) to provide a graphicaluser interface (GUI) for the timed ring suppression program 110. The GUIprovides a convenient visual and/or audible interface with the user ofthe time ring suppression device 100. As is apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art, the user (e.g., the customer) interacts withthe timed ring suppression program 110 over a variety of mediums, suchas, for example, a stylus (shown as reference numeral 355 in FIG. 3),keyboard (shown as reference numeral 350 in FIG. 3), and punch buttons(shown as reference numerals 330, 335, 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, and 349of FIG. 3) of the keyboard system, a display screen (shown as referencenumeral 300 of FIG. 3) of the graphics subsystem, and/or avoice-activated menu prompt (shown as punch button 342 and speaker 360in FIG. 3) of the audio subsystem. Additionally, the peripheral buscontroller provides an interface with the biometrics sensor 233, suchas, for example, a fingerprint ID device. The biometrics sensor 233 mayprovide security features that prevent unauthorized users fromexploiting the timed ring suppression device 100. The biometrics sensor233 could also comprise retina recognition device and software, DNA/RNArecognition device and software, facial recognition device and software,speech recognition device and software, and/or scent recognition deviceand software.

[0036] The timed ring suppressor device 100 enables the circuit 145 tosuppress the ringer 150 of telephone 160. If, for example, the timedring suppressor device 100 communicates with the telecommunicationsswitch (shown as reference numeral 610 in FIGS. 6, 8-10), the COMM port236 receives the incoming line identification (ICLID) signal transmittedvia phone line 130 with an incoming call. The ICLID signal includestelephone network information provided by a telecommunications provider.When the ICLID signal is received, the digital signal processor 202interfaces with the timed ring suppression program 110 and with theinternal memory device 204 and/or the external memory device 206 toassociate a timed ring suppression profile that matches reference dataof the ICLID signal (e.g., a matching telephone number). The timed ringsuppression program 110 includes the timing parameter for suppressingsubsequent rings of the ringer 150 after the ringer 150 produces aninitial audible alert (e.g., a ring) of the incoming call. Thus, thecustomer (or another receiving party) is always provided an initialaudible alert of the incoming call. Once the timed ring suppressionprofile is associated, the digital signal processor 202 and the clocksource 237 operate with the timed ring suppressor 140 to suppresssubsequent rings of the ringer 150 according to the timing parameter.Alternatively, the timed ring suppressor may be manually activated by apunch button (such as reference numeral 348 in FIG. 3) to suppress oneor more subsequent rings of the ringer 150.

[0037] The timed ring suppression program 110 may be physically embodiedand/or otherwise stored on or in a computer-readable medium. Thiscomputer-readable medium may include CD-ROM, DVD, tape, cassette, floppydisk, memory card, and large-capacity disk (such as IOMEGA®, ZIP®,JAZZ®, and other large-capacity memory products (IOMEGA®, ZIP®, andJAZZ® are registered trademarks of Iomega Corporation, 1821 W. IomegaWay, Roy, Ut. 84067, 801.332.1000, www.iomega.com). Thiscomputer-readable medium, or media, could be distributed toend-customers, licensees, and assignees. These types ofcomputer-readable media, and other types not mention here but consideredwithin the scope of this invention, allow the timed ring suppressionprogram 110 to be easily disseminated.

[0038] The processor (such as reference numerals 104 of FIG. 1 and 204of FIG. 2) is typically a microprocessor. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.,for example, manufactures a full line of microprocessors, such as theATHLON™ (ATHLON™ is a trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., one AMDPlace, P.O. Box 3453, Sunnyvale, Calif. 94088-3453, 408.732.2400,800.538.8450, www.amd.com). Sun Microsystems also designs andmanufactures microprocessors (Sun Microsystems, Inc., 901 San AntonioRoad, Palo Alto Calif. 94303, www.sun.com). The Intel Corporationmanufactures microprocessors (Intel Corporation, 2200 Mission CollegeBlvd., Santa Clara, Calif. 95052-8119, 408.765.8080, www.intel.com).Other manufacturers also offer microprocessors. Such other manufacturersinclude Motorola, Inc. (1303 East Algonquin Road, P.O. Box A3309Schaumburg, Ill. 60196, www.Motorola.com), International BusinessMachines Corp. (New Orchard Road, Armonk, N.Y. 10504, (914) 499-1900,www.ibm.com), and Transmeta Corp. (3940 Freedom Circle, Santa Clara,Calif. 95054, www.transmeta.com).

[0039] Referring now to FIG. 3, a perspective front view of the timedring suppression device 100 of FIG. 2 includes a display screen 300having displays for a time 302, a date 304, a numeric identifier 306 ofan incoming Caller ID (e.g., ICLID signal) with an incoming call, anumeric identifier 308 of a matched timed ring suppression (TRS) CallerID (i.e., reference data matched from the ICLID signal with data storedin a timed ring suppression profile), and a graphical user interface 320for accessing, inputting, modifying, and/or otherwise managing a timedring suppression profile. The timed ring suppression device 100 alsoincludes a lighted display panel 310 that flashes to produce a visualalert of an incoming, timed ring suppressed call in an uninterruptedon-hook state (e.g., an incoming call that has activated at least onering of the ringer and subsequently had the ringer silenced by the timedring suppression device 100 such that the call is in an uninterruptedon-hook state). Because the panel would alert the customer of theincoming, time ring suppressed call, the customer (and/or other personwanting to answer the call) would know that the call is still availableto answer even though the ringing is suppressed. Thus, the customerwould know that if they took the phone off-hook (e.g., to answer thecall or to place an outgoing call) then the incoming call would beconnected. The lighted display panel 310 may be part of graphicssubsystem 230 or may be an isolated component. The lighted display panel310, for example, could be remotely located on a wall, ceiling, or tableto provide the visual alert. The lighted display panel 310 could operatevia wireless communication (e.g., infrared and/or the I.E.E.E. 802standards) with the timed ring suppression device 100. The lighteddisplay panel 310 could also operate via a wired connection. Thekeyboard system 232 includes punch buttons 330, 335, 340, 342, 344, 346,348, 349, keyboard 350, and stylus 355. The stylus 355 is connected by acord 358 or other appropriate connection assembly (not shown) to ahousing 370 of the timed ring suppression device 100 and positioned in astorage holder 357 when not in use. The stylus 355 may be used tointeract with the keyboard 350 and/or with the display 300 to access,select, modify, and/or otherwise manage one or more timed ringsuppression profiles. Alternatively, the user could use his/her fingersor other pointed device to select each character from the keyboard 350.With regards to the punch buttons, they provide a convenient interfacefor quickly and conveniently interacting with the timed ring suppressiondevice 100. For example, the user may punch or press (1) a left arrowkey 330 to scroll through recent outgoing calls (e.g., calls dialed fromthe communications device 150) or recent incoming call to select a newtelephone number to add to a timed ring suppression profile, go back astep when interacting with the timed ring suppression program 110,and/or for other interactions with the timed ring suppression program110, (2) a right arrow key 335 to scroll forwards through recentoutgoing calls or recent incoming call and for other interactions withthe timed ring suppression program 110, (3) a “Input/Modify” button 340to initiate composing or editing one or more timed ring suppressionprofiles, (4) a “Voice” button 342 to record a voice or other audiomessage (in different embodiments, the audio message may be convertedfrom a speech-to-text message to compose and/or modify one or more timedring suppression profiles and/or to convert a text timed ringsuppression profile (or a telephone number of the ICLID signal) fromtext-to-speech (such as with visually impaired customers), (5) a “Save”344 button to store one or more timed ring suppression profiles, (6) a“Delete” button 346 to erase one or more timed ring suppressionprofiles, (6) a “Silence Ringer” button 348 to manually activate timedring suppression of the ringer (such as when the incoming call is notassociated with the timed ring suppression profile to automaticallyenable timed ring suppression), and (7) an “Enter” button 349 to enterand/or confirm selection of information displayed on the display screen300. Further, the “Voice” button 342 interfaces with a speaker/recorder360 of the audio system to audibly present and/or record data of thetimed ring suppression profile and to interact with the timed ringsuppression program 110 to administer and otherwise manage the timedring suppression device 100.

[0040] Typically, the customer creates, modifies, and/or otherwisemanages one or more timed ring suppression profiles by punching orpressing the “Input/Modify” button 340 that brings up an interactive“Input Telephone Number for Timed Ring Suppression” GUI (similar to GUI320). The customer may then select to (1) input a new address (e.g.,telephone number) or (2) access a timed ring suppression calleridentification organizer that stores and sorts data by (i) a telephonenumber associated with the incoming line identification signal, (ii) anoutgoing telephone number dialed from the communications device, and/or(iii) a name associated with a telephone number, an outgoing telephonenumber, and/or a caller control signal. After the communications addressis input, the customer presses the “Enter” button 349 to enter thecommunications address. After the address(es) is entered, the customermay be prompted by another GUI (not shown) to associate the address witha name and/or with a communications device so that when a call isreceived from that number and matched with the timed ring suppressionprofile, the display 300 provides the telephone number, name,communications device, and/or information such as a date/time of theincoming call, a geographic location identifier of the call, a callingparty control/password to override timed ring suppression, and otherinformation associated with the incoming call. Still further, thecustomer may be prompted by another GUI (not shown) to select a timingparameter that defines the time period for silencing an incoming callfrom a particular communications address. The timing parameter may alsospecify a time period to re-activate the ringer. For example, thecustomer may select to suppress a call from his/her mother after theinitial ring for 18 seconds, and thereafter, to reactivate the ringer.That way the customer knows that his mother's incoming call is stillavailable to answer, and she has not terminated the call (and, thusinfer that the call might be important enough to answer). Anotherexample may be to suppress a call from unknown or blocked numbersindefinitely, that is, after the first ring, all subsequent rings of theincoming call having the unknown or blocked number are suppressed untilthe call is terminated and/or otherwise handled (e.g., answered by voicemessaging system).

[0041]FIG. 4 is a similar block diagram of the timed ring suppressor 100of FIG. 2; however, the timed ring suppressor 100 of FIG. 4 includes thetelephone 160 that houses the voice/video player 231, the voice/videorecorder 232, the biometrics sensor 233, the keypad 234, the display,and the communications (“comm.”) port. That is, these components areintegral to telephone 160, and, thus are not integrated into theperipheral timed ring suppression device 100 shown in FIG. 3. Forexample, a keypad of a telephone (not shown) may be used instead of thekeypad 350, punch buttons (330, 335, 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, and 349),and stylus 355 of FIG. 2.

[0042]FIG. 5 illustrates a timed ring suppression communications systemincluding a calling party's communications device 510, at least onecommunications network 520, and a receiving party's (e.g., thecustomer's) communications device 530 having or coupled with the timedring suppression device 100. The calling party uses communicationsdevice 510 to place a call (or other communication) over communicationsnetwork 520 to the receiving party's communications device 530. A ringer(or other noise making device) of the communications device 530 producesan initial audible alert (e.g., one ring) and an incoming lineidentification (ICLID) signal associated with the incoming call isdetected, decoded, and compared with one or more timed ring suppressionprofiles by the timed ring suppression device 100. If reference data ofthe ICLID signal matches a timed ring suppression profile, then thetimed ring suppression profile specifies a timing parameter (or uses adefault timing parameter) to silence subsequent rings of the ringer forthe incoming call. As discussed above, the timed ring suppressionprofile includes data for communications addresses (incoming andoutgoing calls), names and/or other identifiers of a caller, time, date,geographic and/or other network identification information associatedwith the ICLID signal, identification of the caller's communicationsdevice (e.g., cellular phone, satellite phone, etc.), the timingparameter to suppress ringing, and/or caller control override features.FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5; however, the calling party's communicationsdevice is a wireless communications device, such as a cellular phone605. The call from cellular phone 605 is transmitted to an antenna (notshown), then coupled to a mobile switch (also not shown), and thenrouted via switch 610 into the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)620. The PSTN 620 decodes and associates the ICLID signal with the call,and, then routes the call with the ICLID signal to the destinationaddress (e.g., the customer's telephone number) via switch 610 and theincoming call and ICLID signal are transmitted to the timed ringsuppression device 100 and telephone 160.

[0043]FIG. 7 illustrates another timed ring suppression communicationssystem that includes the calling party's communications device 510 andthe receiving party's device 530 communicating with the communicationsnetwork 520. Neither the calling party's communications device 510 northe receiving party's communications device 530 integrate and/or arecoupled with the timed ring suppression device. Rather, the receivingparty (e.g., customer and/or user) makes use of an access number, webpage, and/or other medium of the telecommunications network to access,create, modify, and/or otherwise manage one or more timed ringsuppression profiles and timed ring suppression services. For example,if the customer calls an access number, the customer is prompted forauthorization and/or identification (e.g., a pin number associated witha billing number, password, and/or other verification information), andthereafter, an interactive voice-activated menu may present options forthe customer to select in order to access stored timed ring suppressionprofiles, compose and/or generate a new timed ring suppression profileincluding inputting one or more communications addresses, names, timingparameters, and/or other data. The telecommunications network 520 storesthe timed ring suppression profile and/or other preferences for timedring suppression of the customer.

[0044] Moreover, the timed ring suppression menu presented bytelecommunications network 520 may be programmed over a variety ofmediums, such as, for example, a voice-activated and/or Dual ToneMulti-Frequency (DTMF) menu prompt. The customer, for example, mightselect to access stored timed ring suppression profiles by entering a“1” on a touch-tone keypad or by speaking into a receiving audiosubsystem and stating the word “one.” This entry would then prompt thecustomer through choices such as accessing recently sent and/or recentlyreceived calls, alphanumeric listings of names for the calling party,and so on. After making a selection, the telecommunications network 520retrieves the stored timed ring suppression profile from a database(such as reference numeral 845 of FIG. 8). In addition, the customermight enter a code (e.g., “*99”) in order to automatically activatetimed ring suppression for all incoming calls. Similarly the customercould unblock timed ring suppression by entering another code.

[0045]FIG. 8 shows a more detailed timed ring suppression communicationssystem that makes use of the communications network to enable, disable,and/or otherwise manage timed ring suppression similar to thecommunications system shown in FIG. 7. The timed ring suppressioncommunications system of FIG. 8 includes the calling party'scommunications device 605 (shown as a cellular telephone), thecommunications switch 610 connected to the PSTN 620 that includes aservice switching point (SSP) 820, a service control point (SCP) 830, anIntranet 835 (for the telecommunications provider to administer andprogram the telecommunications network components or for the customer toaccess and program timed ring suppression services), a timed ringsuppression (TRS) Dataserver 840, a database of one or more timed ringsuppression profiles 845, an Internet Service Provider (e.g., AmericaOn-Line) 850, a data network 860, a gateway 865, a destinationcommunications switch 610, and one or more receiving partycommunications device(s) shown as telephone 160 capable ofcommunications with the telecommunications network and as modem 810 andpersonal computer 800 having the timed ring suppression program 110(referred to as the “Timed Ring Suppression Management Module” in FIG.8) and an Internet Protocol address 805 to enable communications withthe data network 860. Each switch 610 enables the connectedcommunications devices 130, 160, 605, 810, and 800 to communicateelectronic communication signals via the data network 860 (e.g., worldwide electronic data network such as an Internet, an Intranet, and/or anExtranet) and/or the telecommunications network 620 (e.g., a centraloffice (CO), a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO), and/or acombination CO/MTSO). The telecommunications network 620 may use anymeans of coupling one of the switches 610 to the telecommunicationsnetwork 620, but the coupling means is preferably high-capacity,high-bandwidth optical transport services, Gigabit Ethernet services,and/or the like. As those of ordinary skill in the art oftelecommunications understand, the telecommunications network 620 couldalso link each of the switches 610 via other appropriate means, such as,for example a Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) structure withredundant, multiple rings.

[0046] The customer may use the TRS Management Module (also referred toas the timed ring suppression program) 110 running on personal computer800 with Intranet 835 to access and login to the TRS DataServer 840 toestablish a timed ring suppression profile in the database 845.Alternatively, an administrator of the telecommunications network 620could similarly use another personal computer (not shown) and/oralternate workstation (not shown) networked with the Intranet 835 toaccess, add, delete, store, modify, and manage the database 845 of oneor more timed ring suppression profiles. The timed ring suppressionprofiles control access, sharing, notification, routing, security,transactions, troubleshooting, management, and/or additional processingof timed ring suppression profiles exchanged to/from one or morecommunications networks customers, users, and non-customers. Morespecifically, the timed ring suppression profiles establish preferencesfor enabling timed ring suppression including (1) archiving the timedring suppression profile to a storage device associated with thetelecommunications service provider (so that a database of timed ringsuppression profiles including one or more timed ring suppressionprofiles and/or associated communications addresses are stored), (2)encrypting the timed ring suppression profile (or a portion of the timedring suppression profile) so that only the receiving party'scommunications device can enable timed ring suppression, (3) copying thetimed ring suppression profile (e.g., copying the timed ring suppressionprofile from/to the timed ring suppression device 100 of FIG. 2 to thetelecommunications network 620), and (4) associating the timed ringsuppression profile with a variety of fields, files, and/or other datafor Timed Ring Suppression Services, such as, for example logininformation associated with the customer, user, and/or administrator,password, telephone number(s) or Service Node(s) of the customer (thismay include a plurality of addresses that are associated with a ServiceNode or other switch serving the receiving party's communicationsdevice), TCP/IP address of the customer, email address of the customer,profile of the calling party's communications device associated with thematched timed ring suppression profile (e.g., presentation formats ofvarious communications devices), a time or date identifier (e.g., day ofweek or calendar date), other information associated with the incomingline identification (ICLID) communications signal, display and/orpresentation data associated with a GUI (e.g., color, font, placement onscreen, etc.), telecommunications network defaults, and timed ringsuppression defaults. Typically, the Caller ID Messaging Profileincludes data for (1) the identifier of the calling party (e.g., a nameof the calling party), (2) the identifier of the incoming communicationsaddress (e.g., a phone number of the calling party's telephone), (3) thetime of the incoming call, (4) the date of the incoming call, (5) thegeographic region associated with the incoming call, (6) caller controlfeatures to disable timed ring suppression, (7) the identifier of thecalling party's communications device, (8) other ICLID information, (9)the timing parameter to suppress ringing, (10) other parameters thatenable selective timed ring suppression including times of day and daysof week, and (11) formatting and configuration parameters to enabletimed ring suppression for various communications devices. The data ofthe Timed Ring Suppression Services provide instructions for (1)billing, (2) identification and authentication parameters, (3)parameters to enable and to bypass the disable parameters, (4) memoryservices for stored timed ring suppression profile data, and/or (5)configuration and formatting preferences for each calling party'scommunications device communicating with each communications network. Inaddition, the data for the Timed Ring Suppression Services may includeinstructions for troubleshooting problems including error messages.Thus, TRS DataServer 840 functions as a computer server, database, andprocessor that is dedicated to managing timed ring suppression overother connected networks (e.g., data network 860) to the receivingparty's communications device.

[0047] The telecommunications network 620 may include wired, optical,and/or wireless elements and may further include private networkelements, such as private branch exchanges (PBXs), and/or other elements(not shown). The telecommunications network 620 includes AdvancedIntelligent Network (AIN) componentry controlling many features of thenetwork. The telecommunications network 620 and/or each of the switches610 could also include a packet-based “soft switch” that uses softwarecontrol to provide voice, video, and/or data services by dynamicallychanging its connection data rates and protocols types. If thetelecommunications network 620 and/or one of the switches 610 shouldinclude a softswitch, the AIN componentry is replaced by an applicationserver that interfaces with the softswitch via a packet protocol, suchas Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). The means of communicating thetimed ring suppression profile between or among the receiving party'scommunications device 160, the timed ring suppression device 100, theswitches 610 the telecommunications network 620 including AINcomponentry, the data network 860 including the gateway 865, and thecalling party's communications device 605 include a variety of means,including optical transmission of data (e.g., any medium capable ofoptically transmitting the data), wireless transmission of data (e.g.,wireless communications of the data using any portion of theelectromagnetic spectrum), and/or fixed-wire transmission of data (e.g.,any medium capable of transmitting electrons along a conductor). Fiberoptic technologies, spectrum multiplexing (such as Dense Wave DivisionMultiplexing), Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet services, Infrared, thefamily of IEEE 802 standards, and Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL) arejust some examples of the transmission means. The signaling between thereceiving party's communications device 160, the timed ring suppressiondevice 100, the switches 610, the telecommunications network 620including AIN componentry, the data network 860 including the gateway865, and the calling party's communications device 605, however, arewell understood in by those of ordinary skill the art and will not befurther described. Further, those of ordinary skill in the art will beable to apply the principles of this invention to their own networkconfigurations which may differ substantially from the communicationssystem(s) shown in the figures.

[0048] Once a call is placed from the calling party's communicationsdevice 605 to the receiving party's communications address (e.g.,telephone number), the call is routed via switch 610 totelecommunications network 620 as described above. The incoming call andother communications signals (e.g., ICLID signal) associated with anaddress of calling party's communications device 605 arrive at SSP 820.The SSP suspends processing of the call and queries the SCP 830 todetermine whether ring suppression is required. The SCP 830 queries theTRS DataServer 840 for further timed ring suppression profile processingand routing information. The TRS DataServer 840 accesses the database845 of timed ring suppression profiles to determine if the receivingparty's communications device subscribes to timed ring suppressionand/or to obtain other preferences, instructions, files, and/orassociated timed ring suppression data. Thereafter, thetelecommunications network 620 may enable timed ring suppression viaswitch 610 to the receiving party's communications device 160. Forexample, the telecommunications network 620 may route the ICLID signaland activate an initial audible alert to the communications device 160(according to the matched timed ring suppression profile or defaulttimed ring suppression parameters). Thereafter, the telecommunicationsnetwork silences subsequent rings (or another subsequent audible alert)according to the matched timed ring suppression profile (or defaults).Alternatively, the telecommunications network 620 may enable timed ringsuppression via ISP 750 (or other connection) to the data network 860.The data network 860 then enables timed ring suppression via the gateway865 to the receiving party's IP communications device (e.g., PC 800 andmodem 810) via switch 610. Still, another alternative, is for thetelecommunications network 620 to transmit controls that enable timedring suppression directly to the gateway 865 (such as when the timedring suppression profile associates a static IP address of the receivingparty's IP communications device) to enable timed ring suppression ofthe receiving party's communications device via switch 610. In additionto enabling timed ring suppression profile, the telecommunicationsnetwork 620 may also connect the calling party's communications devicewith the receiving party's communications device to establish anavailable connection. That is, when the receiving party is alerted (viathe initial audible alert, the visual alert, and/or a subsequent alertafter timed ring suppression) of the incoming communication, thereceiving party can answer the incoming communication from the callingparty. For example, the receiving party may review the Caller ID afterthe initial audible alert and see the lit display panel to know that thecall is still on-hook (even though there isn't a continuous audiblealert to indicate availability), and then decide to answer the call tohave a conversation with the calling party.

[0049]FIG. 9 is a schematic of a timed ring suppression communicationssystem similar to the communications system disclosed in FIG. 8;however, the timed ring suppression communications system of FIG. 9illustrates alternate receiving party communications devices 910 thatinclude a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) 911, an IP phone 912, a modem913, an interactive pager 914, a global positioning system (GPS) 915, anMP3/4 player 916, a digital signal processor (DSP) 917, an interactivetelevision 918, and a satellite phone 919. Regardless of the receivingparty's communications device (reference numerals 160, 530, 800, 810 and911-919), the telecommunications network 620 enables timed ringsuppression and enables communications with the receiving party'scommunications device (including audio, text (e.g., ASCII), video, otherdigital formats, and combination thereof). Accordingly, thetelecommunications network may include and/or be coupled with amulti-protocol communications interface that acts as a gateway to enabletimed ring suppression. For example, if the receiving party'scommunications device uses the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)technique, then timed ring suppression is enable and communications usethe Wireless Mark-up Language (WML) as known in the art. The WirelessMark-up Language (WML) and the WAP technique are known and will not befurther described. This is a description of a solution for a specificwireless protocol, such as WAP. This solution may be clearly extended toother wireless protocol, such as i-mode, VoiceXML (Voice eXtensibleMarkup Language), Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF), and other signalingmeans.

[0050] This invention further provides for caller control systems andmethods to override timed ring suppression. For example, the callingparty may place an incoming call to a telephone number of the receivingparty's communications device that has activated timed ring suppression(activated either by way of the customer's hardware and equipment—thetimed ring suppression device 100—or by way of the communicationsnetwork—the TRS services of PSTN 620). The calling party enters aninterrupt code that authorizes interruption or disabling of timed ringsuppression and connects the incoming call while maintaining acontinuous alert/indicator of the incoming call, and, thus overridessuppression of the ringer 150 (or other indicator) according to thetiming parameter. The interrupt code entered by the calling party isreceived in a communications network, such as, for example the PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN) 620. Alternatively, the interrupt codemay be received by another communications network, such as a mobileswitching network, a satellite network, a data communications network(e.g., internet, intranet, and/or extranet), and other networksproviding communications. The communications network detects, decodes,and processes the incoming communications signal and the interrupt codewith a timed ring suppression profile associated with the receivingparty's communications device. If the communications network verifiesauthorization to interrupt or disable timed ring suppression, then theincoming communications signal and/or an interrupt timed ringsuppression signal are transmitted to the receiving party'scommunications device so that the incoming call is connected and thereceiving party's communications device provides a continuous alert(e.g., ringing) despite the receiving party's communications devicehaving activated timed ring suppression services (e.g., to silencesubsequent alerts of an incoming communication according to a timedparameter). Further, the communications network may send a notificationmessage to the receiving party's communications device to notify a userthat timed ring suppression is interrupted and/or disabled. For example,the notification message may be sent instead of a caller identificationmessage so that a caller identification device or the timed ringsuppressor 100 (via screen 300) displays “TRS OVERRIDE” to alert thereceiving party that the caller has disabled timed ring suppression.

[0051] According to an embodiment, a caller controlled timed ringsuppression system includes a communications dataserver (such as TRSDataServer shown as reference numeral 840 in FIGS. 8-9) communicatingwith a communications network (such as Public Switched Telephone Network(PSTN) shown are reference numeral 620 in FIGS. 6, 8-9) for detecting,decoding, and communicating an incoming communications signal on acommunications link from a calling party's communications device to areceiving party's communications device and includes a timed ringsuppression application communicating with at least one of thecommunications network, the communications dataserver, and the receivingparty's communications device. The communications dataserver stores atimed ring suppression profile that includes a telephone number, adirectory name, a date/time identifier, a geographical identifier, acaller control interrupt code, and a timing parameter for suppressing acommunications indicator of the receiving party's communications deviceafter the receiving party's communications device activates thecommunications indicator to produce an initial alert of the incomingcommunications signal. The timed ring suppression application generatesa timed ring suppression signal that is communicated to the receivingparty's communications device (and/or to a switch) to suppresssubsequent alerts by the communications indicator of the incomingcommunications signal according to the timed ring suppression profile.Further, the timed ring suppression application further generates aninterrupt timed ring suppression signal in response to receiving thecaller control interrupt code from a calling party. The interrupt timedring suppression signal is communicated to the receiving party'scommunications device to temporarily disable the timed ring suppressionsignal such that the communications indicator maintains a continuous,uninterrupted alert of the uninterrupted, on-hook incomingcommunications signal. According to another embodiment, a callercontrolled timed ring suppression system includes a calling party'scommunications device that transmits an incoming communications signalto a communications network, and the communications network communicatesthe incoming communications signal and/or an interrupt timed ringsuppression signal to a receiving party's communications device. Thecommunications network may process an incoming line identification(ICLID) signal of the incoming communications signal to generate aninterrupt timed ring suppression signal and transmit the incomingcommunications signal and/or the interrupt timed ring suppression signalto the receiving party's communications device. Further, the interrupttimed ring suppression signal is communicated to the receiving party'scommunications device having a timed ring suppressor (externally coupledand/or integrated) and operates to override a timed ring suppressor of atimed ring suppression device such that when the incoming communicationssignal is communicated to the receiving party's communications device,the receiving party's communications device presents a continuousindicator of the incoming communications signal while the communicationssignal is in an uninterrupted, on-hook state.

[0052]FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the timedring suppression device similar to the timed ring suppression device ofFIG. 1; however the timed ring suppression device of FIG. 10 includes asystem controller 1002, processor 1004, memory system 1006 includingdatabase 1008 and timed ring suppression management module 1010 (alsoreferred to as the timed ring suppression program), graphics system1020, keyboard system 1022, audio system 1024, an interface with aringer of a communications device 1030, a timed ring suppressor 1040, aclock 1045, a wireless communications device transceiver 1050, a wiredcommunications device port/connection 1055, and a power source 1060. Thesystem controller 1002 provides a bridging function between theprocessor, the graphics subsystem 1020, the keyboard subsystem 1022, theaudio subsystem 1024, the memory subsystem 1006, the timed ringsuppressor 1014, and the interface 1030. The interface 1030 may includea peripheral bus controller that is an integrated circuit serving as aninput/output hub for various peripheral ports. These peripheral portsenable the timed ring suppressor to control and to communicate with avariety of communications devices through Wireless Comm DeviceTransceiver 1030 (such as Wireless 802.11 and Infrared) and Wired CommDevice Port 1055 (such as modem V90+and compact flash slots). Inaddition, the stored one or more timed ring suppression profiles may bestored by local memory system 1006 or by a peripheral storage device(such as TRS DataServer 840 shown in FIG. 8). According to anembodiment, the Comm Port 1055 may communicate with a communicationsnetwork (such as reference numeral 520 of FIG. 5) and transmit the timedring suppression profile. In an alternate embodiment, the Comm Port 1055may format the timed ring suppression profile for a connected orintegrated communications device (via the Wireless Comm DeviceTransceiver 1050 and/or Wired Comm Device Port/Connection 1055), and,the connected or integrated communications device would then initiatecommunications with the communications network and transmit the timedring suppression profile (via the connected or integrated communicationsdevice). Still, in another alternated embodiment, the interface 1030 mayinclude intelligent componentry that detects or otherwise identifies thereceiving party's communications device and formats or otherwiseconfigures the timed ring suppression profile or enables timed ringsuppression for the receiving party's communications device.

[0053]FIG. 11 is another block diagram of a manually-activated timedring suppression device that includes the timed ring suppressor 140 andcircuit 145 coupled with ringer 150 of telephone 160. The timed ringsuppressor 140 is enabled to open circuit 145 to prevent current/voltagefrom flowing to the ringer 150, and, thus, silence subsequent tinging ofan uninterrupted on-hook call after the call has initially activated theringer. For example, the timed ring suppressor 140 could be a punchbutton that the customer presses after an incoming call produces anaudible alert (e.g., a ring). Thereafter, subsequent ringing issuppressed for a selected timing parameter. For example, if the timingparameter is set at 12 seconds (approximately two ring cycles), then thecustomer could press the timed ring suppressor 140 to silence the ringerfor 12 seconds, and, if the ringing resumed, then press the timed ringsuppressor 140 again to silence the ringer for another 12 seconds.`FIGS. 12 and 13 are flowcharts showing processes of providing timedring suppression according to embodiments of this invention. While theprocesses in FIGS. 12 and 13 are shown in series, these processes mayoccur in different orders and/or at simultaneous times as one ofordinary skill in the art will understand.

[0054] A customer uses a timed ring suppression device 100 (such asreference numeral 100 of FIG. 3) to access, create, modify, and/orotherwise manage a timed ring suppression profile to enable timed ringsuppression [block 1210]. Alternatively, the customer could used acommunications device and a communications network (such as referencenumerals 160 and 620 of FIG. 6) to access, create, modify, and/orotherwise manage a timed ring suppression profile to enable timed ringsuppression. Once an incoming call is detected, the ICLID signal (and/orother reference data of the incoming call) is decoded [block 1220] andcompared with one or more timed ring suppression profiles [block 1230].If a timed ring suppression profile matches the ICLID signal, the timedring suppression profile is used to determine if there is a timingparameter for timed ring suppression [block 1240]. If there is a timingparameter, then the next step is to determine if the calling partyinputs a timed ring suppression interrupt code to disable timed ringsuppression [block 1320]. If the calling party does not enter a timedring suppression interrupt code, then the timing parameter specifies thetime period(s) for silencing and/or re-activating the ringer (or otheraudible alert) of the communications device and the ringer is suppressedaccording to the timing parameter [block 1330] and the call is processedaccording to other call handling options [block 1340]. If the ICLIDsignal is not matched with a timed suppression profile or if the timedsuppression profile does not specify a timing parameter, then theprocess determines if there are defaults for timed ring suppression[block 1310]. If there are defaults for timed ring suppression, then theprocess still determines if the calling party inputs the timed ringsuppression interrupt code [block 1320]. If the calling party does notinput the timed ring suppression interrupt code, then the default timingparameter specifies the time period(s) for silencing and/orre-activating the ringer (or other audible alert) of the communicationsdevice and the ringer is suppressed according to the timing parameter[block 1320]. Thereafter, the call is processed according to other callhandling options associated with the ICLID signal (or other referencedata) of the incoming call (e.g., voice mail) [block 1340]. If there arenot defaults for timed ring suppression, then the ringer remainsactivated (continuous ringing) and the call is connected to thecommunications device [block 1350]. Finally, if the calling party inputsthe timed ring suppression interrupt code [block 1320], then theinterrupt code is verified (by the communications network and/or timedring suppression device) to override timed ring suppression [block 1360]and thereafter, the ringer remains activated (continuous ringing) andthe call is connected to the communications device [block 1350].

[0055] While several exemplary implementations of embodiments of thisinvention are described herein, various modifications and alternateembodiments will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Forexample, the next generation “softswitch” simply replaces the SCP withan “application server.” This application server is a conventionalcomputer server that also includes triggers for telecommunicationsservices so that “new entrants” into telecommunications services (e.g.,new telecommunications service providers) don't have to purchase anexpensive SSP and/or SCP to process telephone calls. Thisnext-generation packet network represents an alternative operatingenvironment for the network enabled timed ring suppression systems,methods, programs, and apparatuses. Here the telecommunications switchincludes a packet-based “softswitch.” This “softswitch” uses softwarecontrol to provide voice, data, and video services by dynamicallychanging its connection data rates and protocols types. An applicationserver interfaces with the “softswitch” via a packet protocol, such asSession Initiation Protocol (SIP). This application server includesvoice service protocols, triggers, and operations that allow the PSTNand the data network (e.g., the world wide electronic communicationsnetwork) to interoperate. Still, another example is using the timed ringsuppression systems and methods to selectively activate and deactivatesubsequent incoming call indicators (e.g., a vibrator, a lighted panel,a heat sensor, and/or other indicators to alert the customer of anincoming call) according to the timing parameter. Accordingly, thisinvention is intended to include those other variations, modifications,and alternate embodiments that adhere to the spirit and scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A timed ring suppressor device, comprising: adatabase of timed ring suppression profiles including at least one of(i) an identifier of reference data associated with an incoming lineidentification signal and (ii) a timing parameter for suppressing aringer of a communications device after the communications devicereceives an incoming call and after the communications device activatesthe ringer to produce an initial audible alert; a processor forprocessing operations with a timed ring suppression program and forprocessing operations with a timed ring suppressor; the timed ringsuppression program for accessing, inputting, and managing a timed ringsuppression profile; memory for storing at least one of (i) the timedring suppression program and (ii) the database of timed ring suppressionprofiles; and the timed ring suppressor for suppressing the ringer ofthe communications device, wherein the timed ring suppressor silencessubsequent audible alerts of the incoming call according to the timedring suppression profile.
 2. The timed ring suppressor device of claim1, further comprising: a circuit coupling the timed ring suppressor andthe ringer of the communications device, the circuit responsive to thetimed ring suppressor to enable timed ring suppression of the ringer,and the circuit further responsive to the timed ring suppressor todisable timed ring suppression of the ringer.
 3. The timed ringsuppressor device of claim 1, further comprising: the communicationsdevice for communicating with a communications network, thecommunications network communicating the incoming line identificationsignal to at least one of the communications device and the timed ringsuppressor device.
 4. The timed ring suppressor device of claim 1,wherein the communications device comprises at least one of a wirelesscommunications device, a POTS phone, a mobile phone, a wireless phone, aWAP phone, an IP phone, a satellite phone, a computer, a modem, a pager,a digital music device, a digital recording device, a personal digitalassistant, an interactive television, a digital signal processor, and aGlobal Positioning System device.
 5. The timed ring suppressor device ofclaim 1, further comprising: a keyboard subsystem for communicating datato the timed ring suppressor device, the keyboard subsystem comprisingat least one of the following: a keyboard; a punch button; and a stylus.6. The timed ring suppressor device of claim 1, further comprising: adisplay for communicating visual data; and an audio subsystem forcommunicating audio data.
 7. The timed ring suppressor device of claim1, further comprising: means for visually alerting of a timed ringsuppressed call.
 8. The timed ring suppressor device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a power source for the timed ring suppressor device.
 9. Thetimed ring suppressor device of claim 8, wherein the power sourcecomprises a battery.
 10. The timed ring suppressor device of claim 3,further comprising: a system controller operating with the processor tocontrol communications with at least one of the communications device,the timed ring suppressor device, and the communications network. 11.The timed ring suppressor device of claim 1, wherein the identifier ofreference data associated with an incoming line identification signalcomprises at least one of (i) a telephone number associated with theincoming line identification signal, (ii) a directory name associatedwith the incoming line identification signal, (iii) a date/timeidentifier associated with the incoming line identification signal, (iv)a geographical identifier associated with the incoming lineidentification signal, and (v) a caller control signal associated withthe incoming line identification signal.
 12. The timed ring suppressordevice of claim 1, the database of timed ring suppression profilesfurther comprising a telephone number dialed from the communicationsdevice.
 13. The timed ring suppressor device of claim 1, the timed ringsuppression caller identification program controlling a timed ringsuppression caller identification organizer, the organizer sorting databy at least one of the following (i) the telephone number associatedwith the incoming line identification signal, (ii) the outgoingtelephone number dialed from the communications device, and (iii) a nameassociated with at least one of the telephone number, the outgoingtelephone number, and the caller control signal.
 14. The timed ringsuppressor device of claim 1, wherein the timing parameter ranges fromapproximately six seconds to greater than six seconds to suppress one ormore subsequent rings of the ringer.
 15. A timed ring suppressor device,comprising: at least one input/output processor to access, input, andoutput a timed ring suppression profile, the timed ring suppressionprofile comprising at least one of (i) an identifier of a calling party,(ii) a communications address, (iii) an identifier of a calling party'scommunications device, (iv) a timing parameter for suppressing a ringerof a communications device after the communications device receives anincoming call and after the communications device activates the ringerto produce an initial audible alert; at least one communications deviceinterface for interconnecting a timed ring suppressor circuit with atleast one of a communications network and the communications device; amemory device for storing the timed ring suppression profile; and aprocessor communicating with the memory device, the processor operatingwith a timed ring suppression program for processing the incoming callaccording to the timed ring suppression profile, the timed ringsuppression program residing in the memory device.
 16. The timed ringsuppressor device of claim 15, further comprising at least one of: adisplay console; a keyboard; a punch button; a stylus; an audiorecorder; and an audio/video player.
 17. The timed ring suppressordevice of claim 15, further comprising: at least one of a wirelesscommunications transceiver and a wired communications port forcommunicating with at least one of the communications network, thecalling party's communications device, and a data network.
 18. The timedring suppressor device of claim 15, further comprising: a biometricsensor for identifying a user of the timed ring suppressor device.
 19. Atimed ring suppressor device, comprising: a timed ring suppressor forsuppressing a ringer of a communications device after the communicationsdevice receives an incoming call and after the communications deviceactivates the ringer to produce an initial audible alert, wherein thetimed ring suppressor silences one or more subsequent audible alerts ofthe incoming call according to a timing parameter; and a circuitcoupling the timed ring suppressor and the ringer of the communicationsdevice, the circuit responsive to the timed ring suppressor to enabletimed ring suppression of the ringer while the incoming call is in anuninterrupted on-hook state and the circuit further responsive to thetimed ring suppressor to disable timed ring suppression while theincoming call is in an uninterrupted on-hook state.
 20. The timed ringsuppressor device of claim 19, wherein the timing parameter ranges fromapproximately six seconds to greater than six seconds to suppress one ormore subsequent rings of the ringer.
 21. A method for timed ringsuppression, comprising the steps of: receiving an incoming call to acommunications device of a communications network, the incoming callactivating a ringer of the communications device to produce an audiblealert; enabling a user to suppress the ringer such that a subsequentaudible alert of the incoming call is silenced according to a timingparameter, the timing parameter ranging from approximately six secondsto greater than six seconds, the incoming call in an uninterruptedon-hook state while the ringer is suppressed.